Connecticut western news., 1887-07-06
Cremation in Alaska.

Having had information the other day of a cremation to take place at the Indian village went to tho beach to witness it. The dcfunct siwash was known around Juneau as Frank and was formerly employed at Martin Brothers store in the capacity of Indian clerk, and the klockman it being double cremation of one of each scx) had been called Jennie; both. as it happened, having died of consumption. The mourning service consisted of tho ancient ceremony known as ''potlatch," which is always customary among the Indians of Southeastern Alaska on the occasion of the death of one of their number. The potlatch is division of whatever temporal goods the deceased may have possessed, such as blankets, dry goods, etc., among his or her re- lations, according as the merits of each individual case may justify.
 In the services of tho mourning, which are very long, and to the Indian mind very impressive, tho first in the order of the day is euloglstic discourse by one of the old men, which, baing delivered by him in sections, so 10 speak, is taken up and sung by the rest in monotonous sort of chant; the old man is then super seded by another venerable buck, who goes through the same service, and be in turn by another, until all the old men have had their individual say. The charters keep time by humping the floor with sticks and beating on a drum. hiseperformancc being gone over for Q day or two, the potlatch takes place. Tho body of the deceased is first wrapped in mating, woven from split roots, and in appearance resembling coarse straw. They then convey tho body to the place of cremation, which is always on the beach at high water mark. On this occasion they had on hand for the purpose of burning the two bodies about ono cord of wood, some split and some in logs. First platform of small ogs is laid a foot from the ground. and space of four inches between each log. On this pyre, which was about seven feet long by five feet wide, the two bodies were placed, about three feet apart, and around thom miniature log hut was built to the height of four feet; the F ;c oloeo1 .rooo ;o <hoo ooro rof,lIr Ello1 ;v, with split wood and fine kindling, and now, every thing being in readiness, tho fire is lighted from the bottom. The native diet being chiefly salmon, an oily substance, the bodies of the Indian. seem to contain considerable amour of oil, as they lurn very readily. While the corpses Yaaec charring, tho friends O the deceased dcsaAhued to poke them witl long sticks, occasionally raking the frag ments of burnt flesh from the fire ant wrapping them in skins, blankets, etc. Returning from the cremation of thu two natives, l heard singing in native house, and dropped in to see what wa going on.
 There was quite an assemblage of na tives squatted around Q small fire in tn centre of the room, and at ono end o the house the corpse of an old woman lay. covered wi sheets and blankets All around the room was strung up mus lin, pieces of calico and few blankets also, three umbrellas, etc., all of whicl will be distributed among the relative and near friends. Then tho procos described above will be gone through !Alaska Free Press.